Thursday, March 19, 2015

Today in the News Media

Today in the News Media is a synopsis of some of the most prominent coverage of OSU people and programs. Inclusion of any item constitutes neither an endorsement nor a critique, but rather is intended only to make the OSU community aware of significant items in the media.

In 2000, Dr. Jose Reyes used a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to begin researching the development of a small-scale nuclear reactor. Reyes was an Oregon State University faculty member at the time, head of the school’s Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Health Physics. Four years later, he had a promising design but no more DOE funding. (subscription only)

A new study from Oregon State University suggests there is a relationship between low levels of vitamin D and depression in otherwise healthy young women. (see also Science World Report, KTVZ, Health Central)

What made 2014 such a banner year for the new pest was the weather. “Mild winters and summers as well as wet weather are conducive to rapid population increase,” said Vaughn Walton, an associate professor in entomology at Oregon State University. “Spotted wing drosophila population [growth] reaches a peak during wine harvest.” In 2014, temperatures never got low or high enough in Europe to stave the frequent reproduction cycle of the fly, and humid weather around harvest exacerbated the infestation.

Laura Gordon, a senior at Oregon State University, remembers the day she and her classmates made the drive to Hillcrest Youth Correctional Facility for their first day of class with the student inmates. “We were all pretty nervous, and talking about what our expectations were,” Gordon said.

Oregon State University co-founded the FIC with the Oregon Department of Agriculture as an urban agricultural extension center in 1999. One part laboratory, one part economic development center, and one part enviously equipped kitchen, the FIC was built as a kind of specialized consulting center for all kinds of food businesses. There’s no place quite like it in the United States.

“Based on recent studies, anything that takes your attention away, any glance away from the road for two seconds or longer can increase the risk of an accident from four to 24 times,” said David Hurwitz, an assistant professor of transportation engineering in the College of Engineering at Oregon State University, and corresponding author of the study, which was published in the Journal of Transportation Safety and Security. (see also Daily Mail, Minnesota Public Radio)

To reach a robust estimate, the PIK scientists collaborated with colleagues in the Netherlands and the US including co-author Peter U. Clark, professor of geology and geophysics at Oregon State University.

Vegetable starts are sprouting up on shelves in garden centers and the weather feels like spring. Stop. Stick to “cool-season” vegetables, says Master Gardeners, volunteers trained by Oregon State University to know what grows best in our region.

For as much as I love complex videos and campaigns that take lots of effort, it’s always important to remember that generally the most popular things on social media can be understood in two seconds, have a strong image, and are funny – all elements in this great post from Oregon State.

The settlement contains no money for Oregon State University, however. It was OSU weed scientist Carol Mallory-Smith who confirmed the wheat found growing in the Eastern Oregon was “Roundup Ready,” meaning it could withstand Monsanto’s trademark herbicide. No GMO wheat has been approved for commercial use.

The organizers of da Vinci Days want the city, Oregon State University and Benton County to contribute $15,000 a year to help pay for a restored festival.

Today

Environmental Health Science Trainee Colloquium: Presenter: Leanne Cusack, PhD, MPH, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, CPHHS, Title:Regional Variations in Blood Mercury Concentrations and Temporal Trends in Fish Consumption in Women of Child Bearing Age in the United States using NHANES data from 1999-2010. March 19, Hallie Ford Center room 115, noon – 12:30 p.m. More information: http://superfund.oregonstate.edu/colloquium

NEW! Interested in earning your MBA? Join MBA Program Director Brian Precious for an online webinar today, March 19, from noon-1. The webinar will highlight the benefits of the program, as well as the application process and tuition/scholarship information. Join the webinar from any computer, tablet or smartphone by clicking here.

Bargaining rally: SEIU Sub-Local083 will hold a bargaining rally on Thursday, March 19, at noon on the steps of the Memorial Union. Come to hear the bargaining update and support your SEIU Local 503 Bargaining Team. SEIU members are encouraged to wear SEIU t-shirts or anything purple. SEIU t-shirts will be given to those who don’t already have one while supplies last. A box lunch will be provided.

Using Wikipedia in Instruction: In this workshop, Wiki Education Foundation’s LiAnna Davis will explain best practices for using Wikipedia as a teaching tool to help students gain skills in media literacy, fact-based writing, research, collaboration, and critical thinking. March 19, 1-2:30 p.m., Autzen Classroom, Valley Library. Open to all.

Upcoming Events

A Celebration of Life honoring Marcus Borg: Join us for a community gathering to remember and honor Marcus Borg’s life and work, Friday, March 20 at 3:30 p.m.,in the MU Horizon Room. For 28 years, Borg was a professor of religion and culture at Oregon State University as well as a scholar and best-selling author who popularized a liberal intellectual approach to Christianity.

CAC Summit: The OSU Council on Academic Counseling (CAC) is excited to be hosting a summit on April 9. Our theme is, Keeping the Momentum: Success in the Middle Years. Registration is open now through Friday, April 3. Please visit the 2015 CAC Summit website to learn more and register today.

Lectures and Webinars

NEW! Advisor coffee talk: The winter term 2-hour professional development Advisor Coffee Talk takes place Friday, Marcy 20, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Asian and Pacific Cultural Center.The Diversity in Advising group will guide advisors through developing individual professional development action plans for enhancing capability in working with diverse populations.

NEW! Social Justice Learning and Engagement Associate – Presentations and Open Forum: The Office of Equity and Inclusion is holding candidate presentations and open forum. The position will provide strategic leadership towards the development and implementation of educational strategies for university employees around topics of equity, diversity, and social justice. Presentations are: March 30, 1:15-2:15 p.m. MU 206; April 1, 1:15-2:15 p.m. MU 211; April 6, 1:15-2:15 p.m. MU 206; April 10, 1:15-2:15 p.m. MU 208.

Mathematical biologist to address DNA sequencing: The Department of Mathematics welcomes alumnus Michael S. Waterman who will present “DNA Sequencing in the 21st Century,” as part of the 2015 Milne Lectures in Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science March 30 from 4-5 p.m. in the Memorial Union’s Horizon conference room. Waterman is a University of Southern California professor with joint academic appointments in the Departments of Biological Sciences, Mathematics, and Computer Science.

News for Employees

NEW! Professional Faculty award: Nominations are being accepted for the Karel J.H. Murphy Professional Faculty Leadership and Service Award. This award recognizes a professional faculty member who has provided outstanding leadership and service throughout their career both within their Department and in programs and organizations across Oregon State University. Award criteria is available at http://oregonstate.edu/pfla/awards/karel-murphy Nominations will be accepted through April 9. Please direct questions to Michelle Mahana at michelle.mahana@oregonstat.edu

NEW! RecycleMania Tips: RecycleMania – the national and Civil War recycling competition – runs through the end of spring break. You can help OSU keep the lead against the Ducks by recycling and composting as much as possible – consider emptying your green deskside bin into your department’s paper bin in order to make it count, recycle unneeded paper documents, or clean-up other recyclables. Learn more on Campus Recycling’s website.

NEW! Undergraduate student award: International Student Advising and Services (ISAS) is currently accepting nominations for the Clara L. Simmerville Award for International Educationrecognizing and outstanding undergraduate student at Oregon State University. The award will be given to an OSU undergraduate domestic or international student who has voluntarily contributed to international understanding through personal relationships, scholarship and research, and involvement in campus or community organizations supporting international understanding. Awardees will receive $100 and have their name engraved on a plaque in International Programs. Nomination forms can be found here. For more information: caroline.emery@oregonstate.edu

Printing and Mailing Spring Break Hours: Our XPress Stop location will be open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. from March 23-27. Our Cascade Hall location will be open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. from March 23-24. Please contact Kiara Goldtrap with any questions at Kiara.Goldtrap@oregonstate.edu.

News from the College of Public Health and Human Sciences: Join us this month from Bangladesh, where two researchers are currently studying health effects from arsenic exposure. Then learn how an alumna is advocating for women’s rights and gender and racial equality, find out how a CPHHS teacher saved a student’s life, learn what earned the OSU SHE team first-place in a statewide competition, get the scoop on two gerontology events and more in Synergies. http://bit.ly/1MF8ZOC

Spring Break edition: OSU Today will publish on Monday, March 23 only for Spring Break, and will return to daily production at the beginning of Spring Term. To submit an item for the Spring Break edition, send it to osutoday@oregonstate.edu by 4 p.m., Friday, March 20.

Faculty awards: Due to problems with the online nomination forms, the deadline for awards selected by the Faculty Recognition and Awards Committees has been extended to April 9. The online award forms can be accessed via http://senate.oregonstate.edu/individual-awards. NOTE: Regardless of the deadline indicated online, the correct submission deadline is April 9, 2015.

Moving Update: Printing and Mailing Services will begin the move to our new location starting on March 16. This process will take approximately three weeks. Thank you for your patience during the move; we are doing everything possible to ensure uninterrupted service during this period. March 24 is the last day that Printing and Mailing Services’ Cascade Hall location will be open. From March 25 on, our services will be available at the XPress Stop (MU 109) and as of April 6 at our new production facility at 4700 Research Way. Please visit our FAQ page at printmail.oregonstate.edu/faq if you have additional questions.

Spring Break Gear Rental: As spring break approaches, rent all the gear you need to enjoy the outdoors from Recreational Sports. The ALI Gear Rental Shop is open to all students, Recreational Sports members and the OSU community. Students and Recreational Sports members receive a dissent rate on rentals. Visit the ALI in Dixon for more information.

Recreational Sports Spring Break Hours & Guest Access: Recreational Sports will transition to break hours, effective Friday, March 20 through Saturday, March 28. We will return to our normal academic hours of operation on Sunday, March 29. Did you know? Over breaks, we suspend our 2 person guest limit. That means members can sponsor in as many guests for $7/day each! OSU Community may self-sponsor for only $7/day.Consider entertaining friends and family at Recreational Sports over spring break.

Traffic and Maintenance

Notice of Intent to demolish the “Starter Shed” near the East Greenhouse: Oregon State University intends to demolish the small cinderblock and glass Starter Shed located at 2801 SW Campus Way, which is not identified as either Historic or Non-Historic, Contributing or Non-Contributing within the OSU Historic District. All portions of the building that can be recycled will be recycled, and non-recyclable pieces of the building will be disposed of in an appropriate manner. For more info, contact Susan Padgett, Campus Planner 541-737-6911.

Shutdown: Our electrical utility provider, PP&L, has scheduled an electrical shutdown for maintenance work on the 35th Street Substation. It will take place Sunday, March 29, from 8:30 a.m. – noon and will affect several buildings on the Corvallis campus including: James E. Oldfield Animal Teaching Facility, Wiegand Hall, Dairy Center and Farm House, Swine Center, Poultry Farm, Clark Laboratory, Motor Pool and East And West Greenhouses.

Valley Library: As part of the install for Real Time Utility Monitoring, the power will be shutdown at The Valley Library on March 24, from 6:30-8 p.m.

Library Quad: As part of the Bell Tower Project, pedestrian access will be impacted intermittently on the walkway east of The Valley Library between Jefferson Way and Pioneer Place, March 23-27 (View Map).

Quads: To address drainage issues in the campus quads, walkways at three sites in the campus quads will be closed over spring break to complete reconstruction activities. To safely perform this work, the NW walkway of the Library Quad and NE walkway of the MU Quad will be closed, and the walkway in the south MU Quad will include intermittent closures. (View Map)

Women’s Building: Due to improvements of surrounding exterior areas, as part of the LInC project, the north ADA access to the Women’s Building will be closed March 13-30. It will be closed for sidewalk improvements with a target re-open date for the start of Spring Term. ADA access will be available on the west side of the Women’s Building. Signage will be posted showing the route to the west side ADA entry. (View Map)

Milam Hall water shutdown: Due to the replacement of a failed backflow preventer, on the building water supply, all water that services Milam Hall will be temporarily shut down March 25.

Jobs

Oregon State University, Department of Crop and Soil Science, is recruiting for three seasonal Biological Science Research Workers for the Oregon Seed Certification Service headquartered in Corvallis. One person will be hired for the Milton-Freewater area and two for the Hermiston area. Primary responsibilities will be to inspect corn fields in July and August each year, beginning July 2015. Posting #0014126. For full consideration apply by March 20. Closes April 1.

Education Program Assistant 1– Extension Family and Community Health invites applications for a part-time, (.25 FTE), Limited Duration, EPA 1 position located in Tillamook, OR . Posting # 0014070. Closes March 20.

University Housing & Dining Services (UHDS) is seeking a Custodial Operations Supervisor. This is a full-time (1.0 FTE), 12-month, fixed term professional faculty position that provides leadership and supervision to the UHDS Custodial Program. Posting # 0014071. Closes March 20.

Marketing Assistant Director: The OSU Alumni Association is seeking a Marketing Assistant Director. Download this PDF to view the full position description. To apply send resume and cover letter to osualum@oregonstate.edu by March 20.

Contracts Specialist. Procurement, Contracts and Materials Management, a unit within Business Affairs, invites applications for a full-time (1.0 FTE), fixed term Contracts Specialist position. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Director. Posting #0014082. Closes March 23.

Accountant 1. This recruitment will be used to fill one full-time (1.0 FTE) Accountant 1 position in Business Affairs at Oregon State University (OSU). Posting #0014039. Closes March 23.

Procurement Manager. Procurement, Contracts and Materials Management, a unit within Business Affairs, invites applications for a full-time (1.0 FTE), 12-month, fixed term Procurement Manager position. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Director. Posting #0014004 . Closes March 23.

Biology Instructor- (OSU) – Cascades, in Bend, Oregon invites applications for a full-time (1.0 FTE), 9 month, Biology Instructor. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Dean. Posting #0013986. For full consideration please apply by March 25.

The University Shared Services Enterprise is seeking an Officer-USSE. This is a full-time (1.0 FTE), 12-month, fixed term professional faculty position. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Director. Posting 0014145. For full considerations, please apply by March 27. Posting closes May 31.

Advantage Accelerator Operations Manager- Oregon State University (OSU) The VP for Research invites applications for a full time (1.0 FTE), 12-month, Advantage Accelerator Operations Manager position. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Assistant Vice President for Research. Posting #0014164. Closes March 27.

Datapresence Systems Engineer. The College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences is seeking a Datapresence Systems Engineer for the Regional Class Research Vessel program. This is a full-time 1.00 FTE, 12-month, fixed term professional faculty position. Posting #0014057. For full consideration apply by March 27.

Advisor – Undergraduate – College of Business invites applications for a full-time, Undergraduate Advisor. Posting #0014115. Full consideration date, March 27.

INTO OSU is currently recruiting for an Administrative/HR Assistant. The Administrative/HR Assistant provides high-level confidential administrative support to the INTO OSU Center Director, Assistant Center Director and Human Resources Manager. For more information or to apply, please visit: https://home2.eease.adp.com/recruit/?id=2284592 Apply by March 29.

Education Program Assistant 1– Extension Family and Community Health invites applications for a part-time, (.46 FTE), EPA1 position located in Corvallis. Posting # 0014152. Closes March 30.

Assistant Professor (Practice) – The Food Science and Technology Department in the College of Agricultural Sciences invite applications for an Assistant Professor (Practice), 9-month, full-time, (fixed-term, 1.0 FTE), position located in Corvallis. Posting #0013904. Closes April 1.

Assistant or Associate General Counsel – The Office of the President invites applications for a full-time (1.0 FTE), 12-month, fixed-term Assistant or Associate General Counsel position. Posting # 0014133. Closes for full consideration April 3.

Education Program Assistant 2– Umatilla County Extension invites applications for a part-time, (.49 FTE), Education Program Assistant 2 position located in Pendleton, OR . Posting # 0014058. Closes April 3.

Professional and Continuing Education at Oregon State University (OSU) is looking to fill one full-time Analyst Programmer, competency level 2. For full details and to apply, please visit posting #0014069. Posting closes April 5.

Education Program Assistant 1– Extension Family and Community Health invites applications for a part-time, (.75 FTE), Limited Duration, EPA1 position located in Eugene, OR . Posting # 0014109. Closes April 6.

Department Head (Internal Employment opportunity) – The Department of Biochemistry/Biophysics invites applications for a part-time (0.75 FTE), 9-month, fixed-term Department Head position. The remaining 0.25 FTE will be consistent with the departmental and individual faculty member’s professorial position descriptions. Posting #0013899. Closes April 10. For additional information on this internal employment opportunity, please contact Stevan Arnold at arnolds@science.oregonstate.edu

Director – Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life – The Office of the Dean of Student Life invites applications for a full-time (1.0 FTE), 12-month, fixed-term Director, Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life position. Posting # 0014065. Closes April 10.

Weather

Corvallis: “Here sat Marilla Cuthbert, when she sat at all, slightly distrustful of sunshine, which seemed to her too dancing and irresponsible a thing for a world which was meant to be taken seriously…” ~ L.M. Montgomery. Patchy fog, followed by sunshine and unseasonably warm high of 68. Chance of rain tomorrow.